US Open 2013: The story so far

The 2013 US Open began this week as a host of top players try to wrestle the crown from Britain's Andy Murray, with the Scotsman about to begin the defence of a Grand Slam for the first time ever in New York.

Although rain has disrupted play already this week, causing Murray to find himself yet to take to the court, there has been plenty of great action as the cream of the crop chase down the man from Dunblane.

Current world number one and former US Open champion Novak Djokovic is considered by many to be the favourite for the event and the Serb is the bookies' choice to take the title when all is said and done.

He began his campaign in convincing fashion by taking apart Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis with a 6-1 6-2 6-2 thrashing, and will go on to face Benjamin Becker in the second round as he looks to go one better than last year and regain the trophy he lost so dramatically to Murray.

One man who is being tipped by many to beat both Murray and Djokovic to the title is in-form Spaniard Rafael Nadal, who swept past American Ryan Harrison 6-4 6-2 6-2 to continue his fine run on hard courts in his first US Open match since a final defeat to Djokovic in 2011.

Nadal will face little-known Brazilian Rogerio Dutra Silva in the second round and is expected to go all the way to the final after what has been, Wimbledon aside, an extremely impressive year.

A lot of talk has revolved around the apparent fall from grace of 17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer, who has fallen to number seven in the world, his lowest ranking for over ten years.

A lot of doubt has been cast over the Swiss, with many claiming his time at the top of the game is all but over, however Federer showed he still has a lot to offer with a classy display to see off Slovenian Grega Zemlja 6-2 6-2 7-5 and progress to a second round meeting with Carlos Berlocq of Argentina.

The absence of Murray up until now has given the other Britons a chance to step out of his shadow for the time being and make some waves themselves, with Dan Evans causing the shock of the tournament so far in a three-set win over 11th seed Kei Nishikori.

The 23-year-old is up against it in the second round against big-serving Aussie Bernard Tomic, but will be full of confidence following a fantastic performance during the 6-4 6-4 6-2 win over the Japanese.

In what has been a rain-soaked US Open so far, there has still been some fantastic action and things are sure to heat up in the coming days as we progress to the later rounds.

DISCLAIMER: This article has been written by a member of the GiveMeSport Writing Academy and does not represent the views of GiveMeSport.com or SportsNewMedia. The views and opinions expressed are solely that of the author credited at the top of this article. GiveMeSport.com and SportsNewMedia do not take any responsibility for the content of its contributors.

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DISCLAIMER

This article has been written by a member of the GiveMeSport Writing Academy and does not represent the views of
GiveMeSport.com or SportsNewMedia. The views and opinions expressed are solely that of the author credited at the top of this article.
GiveMeSport.com and SportsNewMedia do not take any responsibility for the content of its contributors.

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